I find it very interesting, and telling, that the seniors voted to wear the Smokey gray jerseys this Saturday against Vanderbilt. Even more eyebrow-raising to me is the fact that the vote was unanimous. That’s right, every single one of the 28 seniors voted to wear gray($) instead of the traditional orange. So while fans may constantly bicker back and forth on which uniform colors are appropriate—and how often they should appear—the players’ vote is clear and definitive: they like the new uniforms.
Current Vol commit Vic Wharton, he’s also a fan of the gray uniforms.
“I hope the Vols wear Smokey Grey this Saturday!” Wharton tweeted earlier this week.
28 seniors run through the T for final time
I’m pretty sure the 28 seniors who will play their final game at Neyland Stadium this Saturday, didn’t envision the struggles they would face when they committed to play for this once-mighty program. The fifth-year seniors have a record of 27-33, while the four-year guys are a game worse during their tenure, at 20-27.
“You want to have a great memory the rest of your life when you come back as an alumni – whether it’s next year or five years down the line – you want to have great memories of that last game,” associate head coach Steve Stripling said.
This group certainly doesn’t want to be the first to lose back-to-back games to in-state rival Vanderbilt since the 1920s. But regardless what happens on Saturday, Butch Jones has made it clear: this is a special group of players who’ve seen some of the lowest of lows in Tennessee’s history, but they can take pride in being the group that laid the foundation to bring the Vols back to prominence.
Marquez “don’t call me the future” North
Marquez North’s 494 receiving yards this season ranks first in the SEC among true freshmen. His 37 catches are the most by a Tennessee player since Kelley Washington, who snagged 64 balls as a freshman in 2001.
Vanderbilt has record holders
All the talk this week is about Vandy wide receiver Jordan Matthews, who will likely leave Knoxville on Saturday as the SEC’s all-time reception leader. Matthews, who already holds league records for career receiving yards (3,358), career 100-yard games (16) and current consecutive games with a catch(31), needs just four receptions to break the current mark. The good news: Vandy is fairly one-dimensional; its offense ranks just 14th in the SEC in rushing—for those keeping score at home, that’s dead last.
Please tell me you’re kidding
Derek Dooley was the gift that just keeps on giving. According to Butch Jones on Vol Calls last night, it seems that during his freshman season, Ja’wuan James and the other offensive lineman checked off the boxes on their weightlifting cards, whether or not they actually lifted the weights. James now regrets it and is sharing his message with the younger players.
Somebody please tell me that didn’t really happen.
Recruitin’
2015 Tennessee wide receiver commit Preston Williams received his fifth star on Scout.com. Williams is rated by Scout as the No. 1 wide receiver in the class.
Tennessee has offered 2015 consensu 4-star Missouri quarterback Drew Lock. According to Rob Cassidy of Rivals, “Lock is good. I’ve seen him in camps and in games and he so rarely disappoints. Big arm, great accuracy, good build. Tries to force some throws every once in a while but that will stop as he starts playing better competition.”
Excited to have received my fourth football offer from the University of Tennessee! #Vols
— Drew Lock (@DrewLock23) November 21, 2013
Although not a done deal, it appears Missouri has the upper hand in this one. Lock’s dad played for the Tigers.
Florida offensive tackle Ray Raulerson signed his financial aid papers with Tennessee, according to Jimmy Hyams.
ESPN ten most underrated teams in college basketball
Tennessee, is the tenth-most underrated program in college basketball right now, according to former Vol coach-turned-analyst Bruce Pearl.
The departure of Trae Golden this offseason has hurt the Volunteers offensively, which we saw in their season-opening loss at Xavier. But Memphis transfer Antonio Bartonfits in nicely with this team and brings the toughness that dimension coach Cuonzo Martin desires from his players. Senior Jeronne Maymon is one of the best passing big men in the country, and junior forward Jarnell Stokes (who averaged a double-double in conference play last season) complements him well in the strongest frontcourt in the SEC.
Jordan McCrae is the most talented offensive wing player in the SEC, and can really score when he gets the green light. The Vols have the depth and experience to finish in the top three of the SEC and make the NCAA tournament, so long as they can adjust to the new rule changes regarding physical play.